125 litre community tank [Archive] - FishKeepingBanter.com

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FishNoob

February 26th 06, 11:16 AM

Since the background is still in place, the levels of everything in
the water are perfect, and the fish are looking good, what's a fish-
keeper to do? Well, plan what to do next, of course! :-)

And since I didn't buy that marine set-up last night, here I am
thinking about what fish to add to my Rio 125. Currently there are
six mollies, four danios and two tetras, so there's plenty of room.

This is what I fancy:

a few harlequin rasboras
3 cherry barbs
a panda dwarf cichlid
3 clown loaches
2 kribensis
2 rams
a few dwarf rainbowfish
and a few more neon tetras, if I can find good ones that won't all
die

I know that's a bit much for a 125l tank, so I'm not planning on
getting all of it - I probably won't be able to find all of them, for
a start. The clown loaches will be going in first, to take care of
the snails, but even they won't be going in for another couple of
weeks (next weekend's plan involves planting). From what I've read,
the only issue with the above mix is that the clown loaches may get
too big to be kept with some of the others - not a problem, because
if they do, I can move them into the 60 litre tank. Anything else I
should know? Do any of these need different food? Currently I'm using
flake food only.

And can I just check that my current maintenance/care is okay? The
fish are being fed most days - my kids take turns but I monitor how
much, and they probably don't get fed once a week or so. I aim for a
water-change about once a week, but don't always get to it (I'm aware
that with more fish I'll need to prioritise this more); I change
between 20% and 40% depending on how long it's been. I've been
checking ammonia and nitrates weekly - how often do most of you
check? Sponges get squeezed in used water when I do a water-change,
and the white sponge gets changed every couple of weeks. Not much
else to do really - we seem to have gone through that new-tank-brown-
algae thing that was talked about a while back and now there's very
little algae at all. The only "difference" I've noticed recently is
that we've acquired a few small snails - I've no idea how, since
there are no live plants and the only new thing in there is wood,
which was added after the snails' appearance.

How does all that sound? Anything I'm missing?

--
FishNoob

NetMax

February 26th 06, 04:18 PM

"FishNoob" > wrote in message
...
> Since the background is still in place, the levels of everything in
> the water are perfect, and the fish are looking good, what's a fish-
> keeper to do? Well, plan what to do next, of course! :-)

Naturally :o)

> And since I didn't buy that marine set-up last night, here I am
> thinking about what fish to add to my Rio 125. Currently there are
> six mollies, four danios and two tetras, so there's plenty of room.

That would be 6 medium mid-level and 6 small top-level fish in a 33g
tank. How many more depends on your filtration, and as it gets more
crowded, compatibility. Your lower-level is empty, and depending on the
size of the Mollies (are we talking adult Sailfins or Balloon Mollies)
there is a bit of swimming room left.

> This is what I fancy:
>
> a few harlequin rasboras

Mid-upper level, no territorial footprint, active, nice contrast in shape
to current occupants. Buy 7 to keep 5-6.

> 3 cherry barbs

Low-mid level, somewhat territorial, a little less active, interesting
element to add because of their atypical shoaling. Buy 6 to keep 4-5.

> a panda dwarf cichlid

Need a proper name for this one (Genus species please)

> 3 clown loaches

Low level swimmers, gregarious, reasonably non-territorial, colorful,
unique behaviour, typically slow-growing, would be a little tight in a 33
(quite active). I would look into some Zebra loaches instead, buying 3
to keep 2-3.

> 2 kribensis

Low-mid level, territorial, interesting behaviour, if a spawning pair
they will certainly 'inflict' their requirements on the rest of the tank.
Chance that the 2 selected do not get along (problematic). Larger tank
and kept in harems would be less likely to be problematic.

> 2 rams

Low level swimmers, mildly territorial, success depends on your source
water and the quality of your local stock. Buy 4 to keep 3.

> a few dwarf rainbowfish

Mid-upper swimmers, shoaling, active, size/colors varies to type. Qty
varies to type. Let us know what you have locally available.

> and a few more neon tetras, if I can find good ones that won't all
> die

:o) uh huh. Placed in a stable environment (where new fish are NOT being
added), Neons become quite hardy. Most of their fragility is in
transport and in vulnerability to diseases.

> I know that's a bit much for a 125l tank, so I'm not planning on
> getting all of it - I probably won't be able to find all of them, for
> a start. The clown loaches will be going in first, to take care of
> the snails, but even they won't be going in for another couple of
> weeks (next weekend's plan involves planting). From what I've read,
> the only issue with the above mix is that the clown loaches may get
> too big to be kept with some of the others - not a problem, because
> if they do, I can move them into the 60 litre tank. Anything else I
> should know? Do any of these need different food? Currently I'm using
> flake food only.

All of the fish listed would benefit from a more varied diet, with live,
frozen or freeze-dried foods. Even different processed foods such as
spirulina, earthworm flakes etc would give more variety. My impression
is that botia especially thrive from a more varied diet, but all would
benefit, right down to the Neons.

> And can I just check that my current maintenance/care is okay? The
> fish are being fed most days - my kids take turns but I monitor how
> much, and they probably don't get fed once a week or so. I aim for a
> water-change about once a week, but don't always get to it (I'm aware
> that with more fish I'll need to prioritise this more); I change
> between 20% and 40% depending on how long it's been. I've been
> checking ammonia and nitrates weekly - how often do most of you
> check?

Me, almost never. Unless I have problems, I never check ammonia or
nitrites, and I'm familiar enough with my tanks to know what my nitrate
levels do (varies according to fish-load/amount of live plants/water
change routine).

Everyone adjusts their testing routine to their set-up. You only need to
regularly test for things which you know change, or are under influence
to change. In your case, if no live plants, then NO3. Depending on your
source water: kH and pH. Depending on the rate you add fish and your
filter's operating margin: NH3/4 and NO2.

> Sponges get squeezed in used water when I do a water-change,
> and the white sponge gets changed every couple of weeks. Not much
> else to do really - we seem to have gone through that new-tank-brown-
> algae thing that was talked about a while back and now there's very
> little algae at all. The only "difference" I've noticed recently is
> that we've acquired a few small snails - I've no idea how, since
> there are no live plants and the only new thing in there is wood,
> which was added after the snails' appearance.

Without plants (no decaying organic matter for them to consume), their
rate of reproduction and growth will depend on the uneaten fish food they
find. Probably not a concern. Many cichlids snack on errant snails, so
I wouldn't buy botia loaches just for that.

> How does all that sound? Anything I'm missing?

I see more tanks in your future ;~).
--
www.NetMax.tk

> --
> FishNoob

Koi-Lo

February 26th 06, 04:58 PM

"FishNoob" > wrote in message
...
> Since the background is still in place, the levels of everything in
> the water are perfect, and the fish are looking good, what's a fish-
> keeper to do? Well, plan what to do next, of course! :-)

---- brevity snip

As for the flakes you feed. You may want to add some pelleted food, a
variety of flakes and some thawed frozen foods like blood worms etc. to help
make sure they're getting all the nutrients they need.

Snails seem to drop from the sky like algae spores. :-)

I don't check for ammonia unless there is a need or reason to check for it
like after an extended power outage or when there are too many fish in my
10g quarantine tank (seldom happens though).

Koi-Lo.........

FishNoob

February 26th 06, 05:02 PM

In article >,
says...
> "FishNoob" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Since the background is still in place, the levels of everything in
> > the water are perfect, and the fish are looking good, what's a fish-
> > keeper to do? Well, plan what to do next, of course! :-)
>
> Naturally :o)

It's contagious. I caught it from this group ;-)

> > And since I didn't buy that marine set-up last night, here I am
> > thinking about what fish to add to my Rio 125. Currently there are
> > six mollies, four danios and two tetras, so there's plenty of room.
>
> That would be 6 medium mid-level and 6 small top-level fish in a 33g
> tank. How many more depends on your filtration, and as it gets more
> crowded, compatibility. Your lower-level is empty, and depending on the
> size of the Mollies (are we talking adult Sailfins or Balloon Mollies)
> there is a bit of swimming room left.

All the mollies are small-to-average. There's one that's maybe 6cm
not including his tail, all the others are smaller than him.

The filtration consists of the Juwel Compact set-up, plus the filter
from my Rena, which is still running in there and can stay there
until I need it for something else.

> > This is what I fancy:
> >
> > a panda dwarf cichlid
>
> Need a proper name for this one (Genus species please)

Apistogramma nijsseni, apparently :-)

> > 3 clown loaches
>
> Low level swimmers, gregarious, reasonably non-territorial, colorful,
> unique behaviour, typically slow-growing, would be a little tight in a 33
> (quite active). I would look into some Zebra loaches instead, buying 3
> to keep 2-3.

Not quite so pretty though. My 11-year-old is keen on the clown
loaches - a friend gave him a gift certificate from a local pet shop
for his birthday, and that's what he wants. That pet shop isn't
particularly good for fish imo, so I used the gift certificate on the
background I installed yesterday, and gave him the money to spend in
a specialist aquarium shop we've discovered instead. But as I said,
if they do get too big or the tank seems too crowded, I can move
them.

> > and a few more neon tetras, if I can find good ones that won't all
> > die

> :o) uh huh. Placed in a stable environment (where new fish are NOT being
> added), Neons become quite hardy. Most of their fragility is in
> transport and in vulnerability to diseases.

We've not had good luck with neon tetras, and certainly our
experience bears out what you're saying - we either lose them within
a few days of purchase, or they survive (at least for as long as
we've had them). I'm hoping our new-found aquarium shop will be a
better place to buy them.

> Without plants (no decaying organic matter for them to consume), their
> rate of reproduction and growth will depend on the uneaten fish food they
> find. Probably not a concern. Many cichlids snack on errant snails, so
> I wouldn't buy botia loaches just for that.

We'll be adding plants next weekend - I'm ordering on-line for Friday
delivery, then will float them in the tank overnight on Friday and
plant on Saturday (at the suggestion of the supplier). But although
that's why the loaches are first in the line of new occupants, the
snails aren't the only reason for buying them; we like them too :-)

> > How does all that sound? Anything I'm missing?

> I see more tanks in your future ;~).

:-p~~~~~~

--
FishNoob

justice

February 26th 06, 05:49 PM

FishNoob wrote:
> In article >,
> says...
>
>>"FishNoob" > wrote in message
...
>>
>>>Since the background is still in place, the levels of everything in
>>>the water are perfect, and the fish are looking good, what's a fish-
>>>keeper to do? Well, plan what to do next, of course! :-)
>>
>>Naturally :o)
>
>
> It's contagious. I caught it from this group ;-)
>
>
>>>And since I didn't buy that marine set-up last night, here I am
>>>thinking about what fish to add to my Rio 125. Currently there are
>>>six mollies, four danios and two tetras, so there's plenty of room.
>>
>>That would be 6 medium mid-level and 6 small top-level fish in a 33g
>>tank. How many more depends on your filtration, and as it gets more
>>crowded, compatibility. Your lower-level is empty, and depending on the
>>size of the Mollies (are we talking adult Sailfins or Balloon Mollies)
>>there is a bit of swimming room left.
>
>
> All the mollies are small-to-average. There's one that's maybe 6cm
> not including his tail, all the others are smaller than him.
>
> The filtration consists of the Juwel Compact set-up, plus the filter
> from my Rena, which is still running in there and can stay there
> until I need it for something else.
>
>
>>>This is what I fancy:
>>>
>>>a panda dwarf cichlid
>>
>>Need a proper name for this one (Genus species please)
>
>
> Apistogramma nijsseni, apparently :-)
>
>
>>>3 clown loaches
>>
>>Low level swimmers, gregarious, reasonably non-territorial, colorful,
>>unique behaviour, typically slow-growing, would be a little tight in a 33
>>(quite active). I would look into some Zebra loaches instead, buying 3
>>to keep 2-3.
>
>
> Not quite so pretty though. My 11-year-old is keen on the clown
> loaches - a friend gave him a gift certificate from a local pet shop
> for his birthday, and that's what he wants. That pet shop isn't
> particularly good for fish imo, so I used the gift certificate on the
> background I installed yesterday, and gave him the money to spend in
> a specialist aquarium shop we've discovered instead. But as I said,
> if they do get too big or the tank seems too crowded, I can move
> them.
>
>
>>>and a few more neon tetras, if I can find good ones that won't all
>>>die
>
>
>>:o) uh huh. Placed in a stable environment (where new fish are NOT being
>>added), Neons become quite hardy. Most of their fragility is in
>>transport and in vulnerability to diseases.
>
>
> We've not had good luck with neon tetras, and certainly our
> experience bears out what you're saying - we either lose them within
> a few days of purchase, or they survive (at least for as long as
> we've had them). I'm hoping our new-found aquarium shop will be a
> better place to buy them.
>
>
>>Without plants (no decaying organic matter for them to consume), their
>>rate of reproduction and growth will depend on the uneaten fish food they
>>find. Probably not a concern. Many cichlids snack on errant snails, so
>>I wouldn't buy botia loaches just for that.
>
>
> We'll be adding plants next weekend - I'm ordering on-line for Friday
> delivery, then will float them in the tank overnight on Friday and
> plant on Saturday (at the suggestion of the supplier). But although
> that's why the loaches are first in the line of new occupants, the
> snails aren't the only reason for buying them; we like them too :-)
>
>
>>>How does all that sound? Anything I'm missing?
>
>
>>I see more tanks in your future ;~).
>
>
> :-p~~~~~~
>
clown loaches are a really cool fish, but if you have never kept one you
will have a few moments of worry. They tent to sleep on thir side,back,
head, and tend look dead. Also you need some sort of cave for them in
witch they will spend most of the time. also don't be frightend if they
fight amongst themselves they need to establish a leader. another note
on my favirot fish is they click.

Mary Burns

February 26th 06, 06:18 PM

"FishNoob" > wrote in message
...
> In article >,
> says...
>> "FishNoob" > wrote in message
>> ...
>> > Since the background is still in place, the levels of everything in
>> > the water are perfect, and the fish are looking good, what's a fish-
>> > keeper to do? Well, plan what to do next, of course! :-)
>>
>> Naturally :o)
>
> It's contagious. I caught it from this group ;-)
>
>> > And since I didn't buy that marine set-up last night, here I am
>> > thinking about what fish to add to my Rio 125. Currently there are
>> > six mollies, four danios and two tetras, so there's plenty of room.
>>
>> That would be 6 medium mid-level and 6 small top-level fish in a 33g
>> tank. How many more depends on your filtration, and as it gets more
>> crowded, compatibility. Your lower-level is empty, and depending on the
>> size of the Mollies (are we talking adult Sailfins or Balloon Mollies)
>> there is a bit of swimming room left.
>
> All the mollies are small-to-average. There's one that's maybe 6cm
> not including his tail, all the others are smaller than him.
>
> The filtration consists of the Juwel Compact set-up, plus the filter
> from my Rena, which is still running in there and can stay there
> until I need it for something else.
>
>> > This is what I fancy:
>> >
>> > a panda dwarf cichlid
>>
>> Need a proper name for this one (Genus species please)
>
> Apistogramma nijsseni, apparently :-)
>
>> > 3 clown loaches
>>
>> Low level swimmers, gregarious, reasonably non-territorial, colorful,
>> unique behaviour, typically slow-growing, would be a little tight in a 33
>> (quite active). I would look into some Zebra loaches instead, buying 3
>> to keep 2-3.
>
> Not quite so pretty though. My 11-year-old is keen on the clown
> loaches - a friend gave him a gift certificate from a local pet shop
> for his birthday, and that's what he wants. That pet shop isn't
> particularly good for fish imo, so I used the gift certificate on the
> background I installed yesterday, and gave him the money to spend in
> a specialist aquarium shop we've discovered instead. But as I said,
> if they do get too big or the tank seems too crowded, I can move
> them.
>
>> > and a few more neon tetras, if I can find good ones that won't all
>> > die
>
>> :o) uh huh. Placed in a stable environment (where new fish are NOT being
>> added), Neons become quite hardy. Most of their fragility is in
>> transport and in vulnerability to diseases.
>
> We've not had good luck with neon tetras, and certainly our
> experience bears out what you're saying - we either lose them within
> a few days of purchase, or they survive (at least for as long as
> we've had them). I'm hoping our new-found aquarium shop will be a
> better place to buy them.
>
>> Without plants (no decaying organic matter for them to consume), their
>> rate of reproduction and growth will depend on the uneaten fish food they
>> find. Probably not a concern. Many cichlids snack on errant snails, so
>> I wouldn't buy botia loaches just for that.
>
> We'll be adding plants next weekend - I'm ordering on-line for Friday
> delivery, then will float them in the tank overnight on Friday and
> plant on Saturday (at the suggestion of the supplier). But although
> that's why the loaches are first in the line of new occupants, the
> snails aren't the only reason for buying them; we like them too :-)
>
>> > How does all that sound? Anything I'm missing?
>
>> I see more tanks in your future ;~).
>
> :-p~~~~~~
>
> --
> FishNoob

Clown loaches have their own needs to thrive, plants, hiding places, a
varied diet including veggies and lots of space to swim and grow. My 2"
clowns became 4" in 18 months, in juwel 260, 4' width. They need a 6' tank
width soon. The rio 125 is only 31" wide and not really big enough for them
to play and grow properly. Moving them to 60 litre is out of the question as
it's only 24" wide. They like big groups...my 10 clowns are on the go all
day, and only getting 2 or 3 may lead to them hiding and not eating all day.
Organise the maintance so you wash white sponge every time, new carbon and
nitrate every 6 weeks, wash coarse every 6 weeks, wash the 2 fine blue every
2 or 3 months, not at the same time. Only do white and one other at a time
so cycle is not disturbed.

Sort of like this..
Week 1...white and new carbon
Week 2 white washed
Week 3 white washed and new nitrate
Week 4 white washed
Week 5 white and coarse washed
Week 6 white /fine blue washed if it is due... and start again!!! Mary

NetMax

February 27th 06, 04:14 AM